" FLAME THROWER IN MEDIUM TANK - SERVICING" WWII ERA SHERMAN TANK CREW TRAINING FILM XD81285

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This 1940s War Department training film "Main Armament / Flame Thrower in Medium Tank / Servicing and the Service Unit" looks at how to service a flamethrower tank and the servicing unit itself. It shows a Sherman Flamethrower Tank arriving next to the servicing unit and the crews go through all of the steps to refuel the tank and what to keep in mind while doing this hazardous procedure. This is followed by a look at the servicing unit itself and different tricks and techniques that are needed for maintenance and repair.
0:08 War Department Official Training Film T.F. 3 1454 Army Service Forces, 0:14 produced by Army Pictorial Service Signal Corps, 0:18 “Main Armament Flame Thrower in Medium Tank - Part 3 Servicing and the Service Unit”, 0:32 a mechanized flamethrower in action, 0:52 a service truck modified to resupply the flamethrower, 1:17 crew setting up equipment to refuel the flamethrower, 1:35 different parts of the refueling unit including the fuel mixing tank, the air compressor, and the power take off, 2:15 the flamethrower Sherman tank arrives and gets into position, 2:46 crews moving barrels of gasoline, 3:05 crew prepares the tank for servicing, 3:50 the service unit preparing their truck for servicing by turning off the ignition and engaging the service equipment, 5:30 speedometer and engine showing the right speed needed to operate the service equipment, 6:17 soldier demonstrates how to charge the flamethrower with air, 7:00 soldier connects the air hoses to the right places on the flamethrower, 8:10 crew preparing both vehicles for the air charge, 8:57 soldier engages the compressor, 9:22 soldiers begin preparing thickened fuel mixture, 10:21 gasoline being pumped out of drums, 10:43 soldier preparing thickener, 11:39 soldier pours the thickener into the mixing tank, 12:03 soldier demonstrating how to determine the right mix, 12:30 a look at the different gages needed for the air charging process, 13:42 soldiers preparing the equipment for fuel transfer, 14:19 crew connecting the fuel hose to the flamethrower, 14:42 fuel transfer begins, 15:17 crew stops the air charge process and begins loosening valves to remove pressure from the system so that they can begin removing hoses, 16:36 crew rolling up hoses, 16:58 crew emptying excess fuel into an overflow can, 17:10 different valves being closed, 17:28 fuel in the hose being bled into a bucket, 17:41 fuel hose being disconnected, 18:28 crew preparing to fill secondary and atomizer fuel tanks, 18:48 soldier pouring gasoline into secondary tank, 19:10 crew filling atomizer, 19:40 crew closing fuel caps, 20:13 service unit doing preventative maintenance such as lubricating necessary parts, checking for oil, belt wear, and general wear and tear, 21:55 soldier showing the water jacket and other water pipes and how to service these, 22:40 trouble shooting hints for the fuel hose, the compressor, 23:42 soldier adjusting pressure valves for gages, 24:02 flamethrower tank in action
During WWII U.S. Naval Construction Battalions ("Seabees") modified/created all of the main armament flame throwing tanks that were used in the Pacific War: by USMC in the Battle of Saipan, Battle of Tinian, Battle of Iwo Jima, and by the U.S. Army in the Battle of Okinawa. U.S. troops preferred to follow them over standard armor for the fear they put in the enemy. On Iwo Jima the Marines learned that conventional firearms were relatively ineffective against the Japanese defenders and effectively used flamethrowers and grenades to flush out Japanese troops in the tunnels. One of the technological innovations of the battle, the eight Sherman M4A3R3 medium tanks equipped with flamethrowers ("Ronson" or "Zippo" tanks), proved very effective at clearing Japanese positions. The Shermans were difficult to disable, such that defenders were often compelled to assault them in the open, where they would face the full firepower of marine rifle and machine gun fire. The maximum range of a flamethrower was typically less than 150 metres. Because of this limitation, the flamethrower was virtually useless on an open battlefield. However, they proved a potent psychological weapon against fortified troops. In many instances, troops surrendered or fled upon seeing a flame tank fire ranging shots, rather than risk being burned alive.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@jomama01]

“Thickened fuel”, sounds like Napalm to me. Dad was commander of one of these units in the Pacific theater. After spending the war in a tank next to a Chrysler engine next to him, he never complained about the weather ever being “too hot” for him.

[@JohnCompton1]

Great story from a great man. Thanks for sharing with us...

[@Orangesjesus]

The buckets of thickener , don't appear too heavy...aluminium isnt it?.

[@foxxster3565]

@@Orangesjesuscornflower.

[@mwbright]

It is napalm.

[@mfx1]

@@Orangesjesus aluminium salts of naphthenic acid and palmitic acid hence the name Na-palm.

[@texaskidzuk]

Glad these procedures were simple to remember. Straightened me out just like a pretzel. 😅

[@ypaulbrown]

laughing real hard on that comment

[@texaskidzuk]

@@ypaulbrown Glad you liked it.

[@commentatron]

Good point. Makes me realize that contemporary people may have a tendency to forget how smart/competent past generations were. That kind of conceit doesn't last long when I recall that even though I can fly an airplane or drive a car, it doesn't mean I can design or build one. Come to think of it, Pythagoras was a pretty smart cookie, too, and he'd be over 2,500 years old now!

[@jimamizzi1]

I done understand step 45 & 150

[@commentatron]

@@jimamizzi1Don't feel bad, you're not alone. OTOH, there is no remedial training. Those making mistakes are simply _fired_

[@ThommyofThenn]

Watching these videos has given me a much more complete idea of how complex and huge in scale these logistical operations had to be in order to make these systems function in very harsh environments. I've learned things about WW2 that are truly astonishing but I still find this aspect particularly fascinating. Things get forgotten in time but I hope people decades from now can watch these films too

[@ironworkerfxr7105]

Just thinking,,, could the lgbt+ do this ??? DOUBTFUL.......

[@ThommyofThenn]

@@ironworkerfxr7105don't post that shit on my comment

[@scottmccoy3251]

They have way more important things to do, like consider what gender they are, more power to them!!!@ironworkerfxr7105

[@milwaukeegregg]

My uncle was at Guadele Canal, Iwa Jima, and Okinawa and had one of these in miniature strapped to his back. A real hero marine. never got a scratch ...Lucky strikes killed him 3 packs a day later for 40 years....

[@PeriscopeFilm]

God bless your uncle for his service to our great nation.

[@sixstringedthing]

Tropical heat, middle of a warzone, "try to park on a slope so spills run out the back, you'll know the tanks are full when thickened fuel or raw gas starts overflowing, you should try to stop it going everywhere". Just wow.

[@MarioMastar]

A lot of these "guides" seem to be written and narrated by someone who clearly never saw any kind of combat even in bootcamp training... likely some rich friend of a voted govt official who was given some official position. Watch thier medic video.... and try not to hurl at how badly our ancestors were treated...

[@drlong08]

@5:40 Yep, just stick your hand up in there and point at all the spinning belts off the driveshaft....

[@DatHughJass]

No joke, I was panicking watching that.

[@captaintoyota3171]

Its 1940s machines are moving so fast and safety was for pansies

[@drlong08]

@@DatHughJass bet he was also wearing a tie....

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

​@@captaintoyota3171😮😅

[@thomasward4505]

The narrator said the guards had been removed

[@greendryerlint]

High-pressure air, gasoline everywhere, no chance of moving out of harm's way until the job is done.. That must have been a nerve-wracking job in any kind of combat situation. And in the tank you're sitting next to a high-pressure gasoline bomb. Fun.

[@randallwong7196]

Much like making a roast or cake, a lot of prep work for a relatively short time of enjoyment.

[@MarioMastar]

Not gonna lie though....it's a FLAMETHROWER. The coolness factor makes up for it. XD

[@pierredecine1936]

Pretty Cool, hadn't ever thought about refilling a Flame Tank .

[@thefencepost]

Thee fumes those guys breathed in must have been horrendous. Think of the guys in the Tank on a hot tropical day.

[@mwbright]

I talked to a guy who tried a hand held flame thrower in 29 Palms. He said it gave him the worst headache he ever experienced, and was completely disabled until they got him to an infirmary for a big blast of oxygen and some kind of pill.

[@MarioMastar]

@@mwbright Kind of depressing in retrospect hearing "Your comfort isn't as important as your victory" from some commando in an air conditioned office way back in Washington....

[@mwbright]

@@MarioMastar Fighting insane Japanese or Nazis with a migraine, well, that's about as bad as it gets.

[@Bhulk79]

I was thinking the same thing...these chemicals, dioxins and hydrocarbons must have been terrible for all living things. We gotta find a other way to resolve disputes

[@thomasward4505]

I find these films very interesting if you don't know what the procedures were or how it worked back then

[@reensure]

Dad was an instructor for these types of vehicles. What fascinates me is that today none of this equipment could exist because of safety regulations. Not to dwell on the fact that modern equipment is not "user serviceable", or certainly is as workaround-proof as can be.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

God bless your dad for his service to our great nation.

[@JohnCompton1]

And not ONE "No Smoking" sign anywhere on that truck..LOL... that has got to be one of the most dangerous non combatant assignments I've ever seen! Wow!

[@huf67]

They had common sense back then. Something that is seriously lacking in all aspects of life in today's time !!

[@matthewexline6589]

Judging by how complicated that process was I think anyone stupid enough to need such a sign washed out in the training.

[@huf67]

@@matthewexline6589 ... Most definitely !!

[@commentatron]

@@matthewexline6589 And to a certain extent it's just a combination of teamwork, training and monkey-see-monkey-do. Sure wouldn't want to be doing those jobs in bad weather and/or under fire!

[@j.t.4299]

No OSHA back then.

[@skyedog24]

Think about doing this for mortars and bullets are flying all around. I would think they would be covered in fuel as well this was a tough job to stomach

[@testboga5991]

Useful in case I need to fuel my flamethrower tank!

[@steveshoemaker6347]

THANKS VERY MUCH.....🇺🇸

[@sticktrik]

These tanks were used quite often on Iwo Jima!!

[@genek8630]

There was a whole battalion of flame tanks on Okinawa, I believe it was the 713 tank battalion. They had a number of 105 Sherman's assigned to them also for fire support.

[@joeytacey743]

Damn that was complicated

[@ConradSzymczak]

Who designed this setup, Rube Goldberg??

[@michaelbizon444]

I was thinking the same thing. Just how well it all worked months into action? North African sand storms & dust? Hundreds of miles of bad roads and winter conditions of Northern Europe? Still beats the heck out of mixing it all by hand with a wooden paddle like they were in the Nam. Mogas & M-4 thickener same stuff to make fougasse or napalm.

[@michaelbizon444]

M4 flame fuel thickening compound is a nonhygroscopic thickener, adi-acid aluminum soap of isooctanoic acids derived from isooctyl alcohol or isooctyl aldehyde, which are obtained from the oxidization of petroleum.M4 is used in fire bombs and incendiary weapons.

[@EDKguy]

I had idea this was so simple! 😂

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

More Armchair Combat Eingieers here! Keep em coming!

[@ady3328]

Would it be too late to unsign up at this point?

[@nickmad887]

thanks

[@Victorted]

What could go wrong? My dad and his buddies were made of different stuff. God love them all.

[@TomDog5812]

At which point do I put out my cigar?

[@MrDastardly]

A Zippo or a Ronson??

[@dukwdriver2909]

Americans had to have a complicated machine for everything. Brits just poured "jellied petrol" from cans into the tank trailer and replaced the gas cylinder propellant. Job done.

[@ralphh.2200]

At. least one of the WW2 soldiers in this film: " I'ma Transfer outta this outfit.Just gimme n M-1 Garand and get me the hell away from that Crematorium on wheels/Tracks... I'll even go in a Sherman but not on that rig..."

[@JosephDent-qd9ih]

Static ground unit for the helicopter inflight..

[@randallpickering9944]

Didn't the tanks tow a trailer with the mixed fuel at times?

[@billballbuster7186]

Nowhere near as efficient as the British "Crocodile" were the fuel and propellant were carried in a trailer not in the tank itself. The main armament was retained and the flame projector replaced only the bow machine gun. The trailer carried a lot more fuel so was longer lasting, if it ran out you could just replace the trailer in a few minutes. The Crocodile flame projector had a range out to 150+ meters in combat.

[@UnicornstalkRGaming]

Yeah, try bringing it into a jungle island

[@billballbuster7186]

@@UnicornstalkRGaming It was actually tested in Jungle conditions in India / Burma. But found the flame projector was inhibited by the close vegetation. Incidentally the US Flame Throwers were actually older British / Canadian designs. The US Army chose the Sherman Crocodile after British Churchill Crocodiles regiments supported US troops in NW Europe.

[@JamesFord-g5e]

Wonder how they remember all the steps crazy

[@stevenwagner9912]

I don't have a lot of knowledge about flamethrowers but I could devise a system to refill the tank much faster and easier with fewer men. Put a cascade system on the truck for the air recharge. It could be refilled when not actively charging the tank and would cut that time way down. You use a system of bottles compressed to higher pressures. Then put a tank in a second truck with a second tank for the powder. Mix it in a third tank ahead of time and then pump it on the tank when it pulls up.

[@imKazahkstan]

24:02 is the money shot

[@MarioMastar]

Tank had to relieve that pent up fuel. XD

[@ypaulbrown]

the narrator has got to be Hugh Beaumont......I have heard and seen him before in army training films... he played Beaver Cleaver's Father....

[@commentatron]

He does sound a bit like him. Just read that Mr. B. was born in 1910, was a conscientious objector in WWII and served as a medic - would have been in his early thirties then. Assume he was too old to be drafted (and already a married man), so not sure what happened there.

[@naturalobserver1322]

Yea, it sure sounds like him.

[@henrikjorgensen1614]

Not a job for heavy smokers ;-) But a real procedur to go tru-amazing

[@harrysweeten9417]

Now all I need is the tank, truck and related equipment.

[@TeslaTales59]

You don't want to be smoking near the re-fueler!

[@kenibnanak5554]

Anyone know which WW2 TM this film is based upon? I assume it is in the TM 9 series like the tank itself, but which one? And is it in the TM 9, or does this count as TM 3 Chemical Warfare material? Or is it TM 37 or 38? Which manual book is this film based on? Just curious.. :)

[@Johnnyred51]

They forgot to remind them to pull up the grounding wires when finished.

[@sbrutcher]

I wonder if those guys all belonged to the plumbers union? Man, what a job!

[@zambufly1]

I trained soldiers on these tanks in the early 1940's.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

So you are like nearly 100 years old?? Wow.

[@teri2466]

@@PeriscopeFilm No. He's a time traveler. He was also a rugby coach in 1939 and retired from Kodak in 1961. 🤣

[@Bezzer1975]

​@teri2466 Let us not forget, in the 70s they also partook in Angel Dust and contracted venereal disease!

[@goldbaron357]

@@Bezzer1975 Yet they made fun of Adolf for passing out blowup dolls to the troops.

[@greendryerlint]

@@Bezzer1975 (Wipes away tear of nostalgia)

[@rapman5791]

10:00 “insert into the bung”. 🤪

[@garypiont6114]

Be nice to add white phosphorus in dust form.

[@carlmontney7916]

I had no idea what was involved in this whole operation. All I can think of is I hope that this was done far away from the front lines cuz you certainly wouldn't want to be doing this procedure if there was any chance you might come under fire by the enemy

[@dusterowner9978]

The Bung of the Drum !! NASCAR quick the ain't

[@MarioMastar]

They had to keep it PG for all the kids in the military. XD

[@tombob671]

Crispy Critters made while you wait.

[@themajesticmagnificent386]

What was the middle bit again.?..Wow,that’s a lot to remember.!..Imagine being a guy assigned to this unit and watching this…🫨..Good job they’re have a Sergeant to calmly and gently remind them,if they happen to forget anything!🫡

[@stellamcwick8455]

The receiver in the Tank must be getting pretty hot when being charged..

[@kq2799]

Ahh, the good ol' days when a $100 drone wouldn't wipe out the tank and fuel truck...

[@R32R38]

Or one of the soldiers forgetting it's a no-smoking zone.

[@Rutherford_Inchworm_III]

That poor driver's best bet was keeping the canvas up at all times and concealing it among all the other rando supply trucks. I suspect that's precisely what they had in mind when they designed the entire pumping apparatus to fit under the canvas. I know there were gasoline tankers designed the same way (to try and avoid drawing fire).

[@challanger275]

Is it is the US Army still using flamethrowers? I don’t mean flamethrowers on tanks, but I mean flamethrowers in any configuration. Any ideas guys?

[@challanger275]

Just curious guys, is the US Army still using flame towers in any configuration, not just on tanks

[@ypaulbrown]

they stoped using them many years ago...@@challanger275

[@jimsworthow531]

the japanese were great supporters of this device.

[@tonyromano6220]

😂😂😂😂

[@frydemwingz]

I was worried about that dude putting his hand in that belt

[@VDP207]

Jeez the war should be just about over by the time they finish that ridiculous routine😅

[@captaintoyota3171]

Dear got a huge tank of agitating hot gasoline.... if the tank builds too much pressure? My god if that thing went off...

[@cindys1819]

What a complicated procedure. Do you you do this on battle with bullets whizzing overhead? Great! Sure...Why can't they have a single pressurized cartridge you can just pop in and go guys. You're supposed to do all this at orvnear a combat zone? Geniuses....

[@mohamedabdullah]

Watch out for drones while doing this lol

[@MrROTD]

Well, how does a fella service a flame thrower in a medium tank anyhow?

[@RobertHunt-tn4jz]

In my game of ruse art of deception the Americans have the crocodile Italians have a flamethrower tank but nobody else in Company of Heroes PC game the Germans have a flame thrower half track.

[@clark9992]

These flame throwers always puzzled me. 95% of the fuel seems to burn off before reaching the target. Why not shoot a good blast unignited, then follow it up with a short flaming shot, to ignite the first shot?

[@genek8630]

They did do that. There are videos showing flame tanks shooting straight fuel into caves and then igniting it.

[@clark9992]

@@genek8630 I guess my question is, why didn't they always do that?

[@naturalobserver1322]

Man, I hope there's not a pop quiz on all this. 🤔☹

[@johnmaurer2035]

Must have been really clever people, to remember all of this.

[@MarioMastar]

Given there weren't many flame throwers talked about in the history of the war, I think most people wanted to forget about this. XD

[@gary6449]

What could possibly go wrong ?

[@kermitwilson]

I’m guessing these guys were using naptha, a little diesel, and kerosene/gasoline?

[@Woffy.]

"You will know when the main containers are full when fuel comes out of the over flow hose to minimise the danger of fire catch the fuel in a can" ! "Clean air compressor intake filter in gasoline", "drop oil into compressor cylinders" ! Oh this is smart compressing air with oil and gas. They seems to rely on overflowing to show the tanks full, I hope the clean up as per the environmental and OSH regulations. Ok chaps all done time for a smoke, booooom problem solved. This janky machine is bloody dangerous.

[@ChrisAthanas]

IT’S 1942 OSHA COMPLIANT

[@tomarmadiyer2698]

We could always add in some hi test h2o2 or Fl for giggles

[@arlynsmith9196]

This was not for 21st century snowflake sissies.

[@captaintoyota3171]

​@@ChrisAthanas1940s OSHA= "Only pansies worry about safety THIS IS THE WAR"

[@jeremyhess7977]

Whatcha complaining about?.... it's grounded. 😂 And who is this Osha character? He sounds like a real killjoy. 🤔

[@YABBAHEY1]

O.K., now for the test........

[@genek8630]

Imagine trying to do all this in a combat area. No wonder they don't have flame tanks anymore.

[@고영환-y9i]

Literally, a tank from hell…😮 Every infantry would not wish to face in battlefield…

[@danielthomson5188]

How many tank crews drove off without pulling up their ground stake? I think this video was delinquent and lead to the premature death of many a ground stake.

[@albertmarsh1796]

No one wears gloves amazing

[@ThommyofThenn]

13:53 lol

[@stevep5408]

Using napalm and liquid gasoline in an enclosed space? Those guys had massive brass balls I can only imagine? To rush back to where suicide bombers were waiting to dash out from caves and pits trying to immolate themselves and you to protect their comrades? Clean with gas? You take a bath in gas lately? Scary but it was the most affective way of dealing with suicidal soldiers of the emperor who had no where to retreat to, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, surrender was failure and shamed your family, your town, your province! They were young, scared men with no one to talk to about how they felt. They had wives, kids, paeents, grandparents who concidered them dead the day they shipped out. At that point in the war there were no returns of conquering heros, no returns at all, just little flags to return, if you were lucky a box of ashes. Yes we hated them but it was a sad end for those young men.

[@jimamizzi1]

You wouldn’t want to be in a hurry.

[@paulmavric887]

There goes 24 minutes of my life

[@albertmarsh1796]

Dam more valves than carter got liver pills

[@jimeditorial]

Three stripes and a " T"....technical sargeant?

[@FernandoCapeletti-wr1xw]

The operation of handling napalm is very pointless, so opening the cans while the truck is in operation lmao. Open the can, leave the can in the open and transfer the contents to another container. In these 10 minutes alone, at least 15% of the consistency was lost due to humidity.

[@billyponsonby]

Not many opportunities for a balls up.

[@fredmullison4246]

So simple a caveman could do it! 🙃

[@andyherrmann2221]

Isnt war fun!!

[@bobbob8229]

They used tank mounted flame throwers -- to incinerate the people at the "Texas Barbecue" (Branch Dividians)😢

[@jiyushugi1085]

The Ukrainians could use some of those things now.

[@johnvanhal4573]

Holy crap huge tank of fuel inside a tank that was very easy to distroy. The British were much smarter and pulled fuel trailer behind their churchhill tank

[@JeepWrangler1957]

Helmet liners. What a joke

[@jackaustin3576]

Cancel complete operation....The enemy has now completed the boarding of the troop carrier ship and is now half way back to home port....

[@simonjackson7269]

A nasty way to kill!!!

[@fredeagle3912]

And illegal by the agreed laws of war set by many conventions of the various nations. Not by the US who do not sign such declarations as a rule and many nasty countries....

[@DGraham-i3y]

FBI. Holland. Unk. The abuse continues. Threat theme.

[@stevenslater2669]

….and today that service truck crew would throughly indoctrinated in DEI. 😮

[@yubacore2743]

This all just seems like a bad idea. I mean, what could go wrong? No way in hell would you get me in that mobile gas bomb.

[@MarioMastar]

Fortunately after what happened in Vietnam, the American people forced the govt to give us a choice in the matter.

[@fritzthedog007]

This great film is male interest, any women watching care to prove me wrong?

[@yankeedoodle1963]

Men with men stacked on men piled on men all over men underneath men who love men attracted to men interested in men curious about men pushing up on men

[@MarioMastar]

I'll say the one video about women's health was actually pretty good. They had a female host so it wasn't one of those "I as a man tell you how YOUR body works" cases, but some of these soldiers talk about women like the govt selling them as trophies to whoever gets the most bounties.

[@SeptemberAdam]

Ewww!!! Like the neutron bomb, that flame thrower is a horrible weapon, at least for those on the target end, with no way OUT!!!

[@carycoller3140]

The Army really overcomplicated this. I got bored watching and listening.

[@MarioMastar]

I think the reason they called these battles "Theater" is because it was just spectacle for the fat heads sitting at home acting like this war was for any American's benefit and not just a way to purge half the population.

[@cheap25]

They forgot the on the job cigarette break

[@simontemplar6279]

HERES what we need at the southern border...

[@MarioMastar]

more like here's what we needed 300 years ago when the people who complain about the southern border the most were able to waltz in and build a country...... who invited you?